"Now lock yourselves in your cars" Baa-baa

[Bruce in West Oz]

When I read the recommendations in this for our "safety" (close windows, lock doors at all times), why do I have a sudden vision of those truckloads of sheep that trundle down the roads, heading for the slaughterhouse?

Once again, the obvious answer is ignored -- encourage people to protect themselves from bodily harm and allow them the most appropriate tools to do so.

The West Australian 26 February 2004

Police warn on carjacking threat
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By Luke Eliot - Chief Crime Reporter and Luke Morfesse
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POLICE are urging motorists to lock their car doors as routinely as they fasten their seatbelts in a bid to ensure they are not victims of violent carjackings.

Acting Insp. Mike Gough said yesterday that motorists should also be aware of their surroundings and people who appeared to be stranded, amid growing fears that Johannesburg-style carjackings could be increasing in Perth.

His warning came as criminologist David Indermaur said improved vehicle security systems could lead to a rise in the crime as thieves realised carjacking was an easier way to steal modern cars.

The fears are supported by a recent SGIO Insurance study which found there had been an increase in the number of carjackings in 2003 compared to 2002.

The report found that small cars were often targeted because they were driven by women and the elderly.

In the latest carjacking, the son of a Koondoola newsagent shot three times last month during an armed robbery was held at knifepoint on Monday before thieves stole $9000 from him. (The newsagent was, of course, unarmed. the BG pointed the rifle at his sister's face and demanded money. The newsagent leapt the counter and tackled the BG. The BG fired three shots -- the first skimmed the newsagent's scalp, the next two hit him in the body -- non-fatally, thankfully. The BG got nothing and fled. The police used the case as a warning to the general public to give criminals whatever they ask for and not to confront them, as this could "escalate the violence". The son was obviously tracked by the BGs as he went to the bank with the day's takings. When he stopped at a stop sign, they pounced.

About three weeks earlier, members of an African street gang armed with guns and knives were behind a carjacking spree during which a female driver of one car was abducted, a male driver of another car bashed, and several cars rammed.

Police, insurance companies and crime experts believe that while the chances of becoming a carjacking victim remain slim, the number of carjackings has increased.

Insp. Gough said motorists should lock car doors and close windows, or close them sufficiently to prevent access. People should also be aware of their surroundings, report suspicious people, and be wary of hitch-hikers or people appearing to be stranded.

"Wind your window down enough to speak with the person to establish what they need and perhaps offer to ring for someone to assist them rather than letting them into your vehicle or opening your doors," Insp Gough said.

Dr Indermaur, from the University of WA's Crime Research Centre, said carjackings were generally carried out by desperate people. "Most car thieves do not want a confrontation with the owner. . . it's a crime of stealth," he said.

He said the drop in motor vehicle theft in WA could be linked to the increase in carjackings.

As for the boy genius from UWA's Crime Research Centre saying carjackings are a crime of "stealth", I suggest he get a new dictionary, because there is nothing "secret, clandestine or surreptitious" about being carjacked by people with knives and guns, or having your car rammed by another to force it to stop.

As an aside, one of the air vents on my car dashboard is broken — it won't stay open. I use a screwdriver to hold it open. Only the handle protrudes from the vent. It is on my side of the steering wheel, next to the door. I had a police officer tell me to remove it as it was an offensive weapon, and I could be charged with a weapons offence.

It's still there.

 

[redhead]

This kind of thing just infuriates me. Let's ensure that the subjects are easy pickin's, we just don't want to escalate the violence. Uh-huh. When the BG's know that they're not likely to meet any resistance, that just makes them all the bolder. I saw an example of that attitude in my town last December. A mugger was targeting middle-aged women pushing shopping carts from the Target store to their cars. He was hitting them over the head with a blunt object, than grabbing their purses. The police chief urged the subjects not to resist but to give the mugger what he wanted. Kewl! Let's make it easier on the muggers! Excellent advice!

As far as I know, they never caught the guy. Since I can't get a carry permit in the county, I just make sure to carry my legal folder (a kershaw whirlwind) and a can of pepper spray, to supplement my attitude.

I just hope I never get caught with a concealed screwdriver!

As I have in my tagline, "In a land of sheep, even a toothless wolf is king."

 

[greyhound]

Good grief, my sympathies.

And I say that from one of the least gun friendly states in the USA, but not that bad.

Though we in MD still hear the "don't resist" nonsense once in a while, and aren't allowed to CCW, we can still defend our homes (if we are willing to be tried for it).:banghead:

 

[Bruce in West Oz]

Redhead
We're actually not allowed to carry knives, even folding pocketknives -- it's an offence. So is carrying pepper spray -- but the police have decided to "turn a blind eye" to that one, provided you can justify carrying it. (For example, if you're a female and work late at night etc.)

Greyhound
We can use force to defend ourselves in our homes, but it must be "proportional". If a burglar takes a swing at me with a golf club, I can't just shoot him. Even a justified self-defence would see me charged and forced to go to court to defend my actions.

Bruce

 

[capt_happypants]

Dude, Australia is *so* boned.

Lovely place, incredibly beautiful women (Colorado has a large population of hot Aussie lift-ops), but your politicians are completely insane.

 

[mrapathy2000]

sounds like the penal colony is back in business and the thugs are in controll.

my bad its a stealth penal colony.
those poor poor people.

anyone read the newsmax article bout the canadian army being broke and getting shorted 500 million from the government. talk about gun control sheesh. I am further amazed they are sending troops to haiti. how on earth they affording that one?

 

[redhead]

We're actually not allowed to carry knives, even folding pocketknives -- it's an offence. So is carrying pepper spray --

I kinda thought so. This "proportional force" thing is an outrage. So if somebody swings a golf club at you, you wouldn't be justfied in shooting him, even though getting whacked in the head with a golf club can certainly be fatal. Just be sure you have a cell phone with you, so you can call for help! Somebody will be there to draw a chalk outline around your body where you fell, and fill out the report.

 

[J Jones]

Why didn't this guy also mention bending over?

I thought banning guns, knives, etc. was supposed to make everyone safer Down Under?

 

[Stand_Watie]

Have you considered emmigrating?

 

[iapetus]

Bruce in West Oz
We're actually not allowed to carry knives, even folding pocketknives -- it's an offence. So is carrying pepper spray -- but the police have decided to "turn a blind eye" to that one, provided you can justify carrying it. (For example, if you're a female and work late at night etc.)

That's even worse than over here in Blighty.

We're not allowed to carry any of those things as weapons, even for defence, but we can still carry folding pocket-knives* (if blade is <= 3 inches/7.5 cm). And if you did need to use it for defence, you could (hopefully) persuade the jury it was "justifiable force".


* Which I do, but not for defence. (If I was attacked at close range/ by surprise, I could hit someone very hard several times in several vital spots in the time it would take to get my knife out and open, and if I had advanced warning, I'd probably take the position that "He who fights and runs away wastes valuble running away time").

 

[Moondancer]

I kind of hate to say this, because it's going to come out wrong no matter how I try to put it, so...

For our sake here in the U.S.A., I hope that violent crime in Australia, the U.K., and now Canada go off the top of the scale. (And I truly feel for the hapless citizens of these countries.)

Only when the facts and figures are so incontestable that confiscation and elimination of firearms produced MORE violent crime, will we be able to effectively counter the antis lies and propoganda.

And again, I have the utmost sympathy for the people of Australia, U.K. and Canada. Too many sheeple and leaders who haven't a clue.

 

[DadOfThree]

Moondancer,
You are under the mistaken illusion that the politicians who are trying to do thi to us will be swayed by facts and statistics. The effect of gun bans has absolutely nothing to do with their drive to ban them.

 

[Mr. Bombastic]

We're not allowed to carry any of those things as weapons, even for defence, but we can still carry folding pocket-knives* (if blade is <= 3 inches/7.5 cm).

If your folding knife has a safety lock, it's illegal too.

 

[RobW]

Just another case in my conviction that politicos and their, -as Lenin said- "useful idiots", INTENTIONALLY use criminals to force more and more laws upon law abiding serfs to secure their power-position.

Has absolutely nothing to do with "security" but with suppression.

 

[P95Carry]

What can you say? ..... Certainly not ''call the cops'' . that won't help. And yet BOHICA continues .. step by step .. and where does it stop.

Is there some aspect about BG's we are perhaps missing all along ... maybe they in some way provide massive Gov funding ... and so need protection from the placid sheep .. ??

Control .. that is the prime factor ... has to be ... any which way you look at it.